Glass shearing mechanism



Aug. 12, 1941.

J. P. BENOIT ET A1.

GLASS SHEARING MECHAN-ISM Filed Feb. 16, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y ATTORN .n n e mum NA e me@ WRW.

Aug. 12, 1941- J. P. BENOIT ET Al.

' GLAss SHEARING MEcHANIjsM Filed Feb. 16, 1939 6 Sheets-Shea?l 3 -r ATTORN- S.

s@ ma T4. M J we. 1R

JPBenoL and L BY Aug 12, 1941 J. P. BENOIT ET AL 2,252,392

GLASS SHEARING MECHANISM Filed Feb. le,` 1939 e sheets-sheet 4 A Tro All@ l2, 1941- .1. P. BENOIT E-r-Al. 2,252,392

GLASS SHEARING MEG-IANISM Filed Feb. 16, '.1939 6 SheelZS--Sheetl 6 IN V EN TORS.

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 GLASS SHEARING MECHANISM Joseph P.'Benoit, RussellG. Allen, and Luther H. Wideman, Alton, Ill., assignors to Owens-Illi-V nois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application February 16,

14 Claims.

Our invention relates to apparatus for molding glass articles and particularly to shearing mechanism for shearingmold charges of molten glass from a supplybody. As herein illustrated the shearing-mechanism is designed for use with glass blowingv machines .of the suction gathering-type in whichrmolds are dipped into a pool of Inolten glassVlledby suction, then lifted and the glass in the lmold severed from the supply body. Our invention provides novel `apparatuscomprising a pair of shears, means for bodily projecting the shears to and from a severing position, means for actu-ating the shears 'to sever the glass, and meansfor lowering the shears :as they are withdrawn. In accordance with the present "invention the shears and shear actuating mechanism are mounted separately from thev mold: carriage.

An object of the invention is to provide novel means for automatically adjusting the shear mechan-ism upand 'down in synchronism with up and down adjustments -of the mold carriage, which adjustmentsmay be required for various purposes, as for' example, when necessitated by fluctuations inthe surface level of the supply body of glass. 4 e

. A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means for maintaining the shears at an approximately' constant `level lwhile the mold carriage is adjustable up or down to accommodate. molds :of `different lengths, and at` the same time. maintaining operating connections permitting automatic adjustment of the shearsV up and down with the` molds through short ranges.` 'u

A further object. of the invention is to provide a novel combination of the shear mechanism and the timer mechanism by wh-ich the shearing operations and other functions of the glass blowing machine are effected.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic part sectional elevation of apparatus embodying the present invention; l

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the shears and operating mechanism therefor, looking in a direction at right angles to that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a'section at the line 3-3on Fig. 2, showing parallel link mechanism for lifting and loweringV the shears;

Fig. 4 is a part sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2

Fig. `5 is a Asection at the unas- 5 on Fig, 4,

1939, Serial No. 256,708

(icl, is-1,4)

showing particularly the cam controlling the shearing movements of the shears;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 4.;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken at the line I-l on Fig. 4, showing the piston motor for reciprocating the shear carriage;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of said motor at rthe line 8 8 on Fig. 7;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional elevations at the lines 9-.9 and Ill-I0 respectively on Fig. 2, Fig. 10 being on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 11 is a section at the line II-II on Fig. 1 showing apparatus for lifting and lowering the shears automatically in synchronism with vertical adjustments ofy the blowing machine; and

Fig. 12l is a sectionat the line I2-I2 on Fig. 11."`

The shearing mechanism herein shown is particularly designed for use with a glass blowing machine such as disclosed in our copending aplllication, Serial No. 246,334 filed December 17, 1938. f

Referring to Fig. 1, the blowing machine comprises a mold carriage I5 with molds I 4 thereon,4 the carriage being mounted for continuous rotation about a vertical center column I6 carried on a machine base Il having wheels I8 which run on tracks I9 on a vertically adjustable framework 20. Mechanism for adjusting the framework 20 up and downand thereby adjusting the mold carriage up and down, comprises an electric motor 2| having driving connections through speed reduction gearing (not shown) for actuating lifting jacks 22afor lifting and lowering the frame 20 and with it the blowing machine, in a conventional manner.

closed in our copending application above re-` f erred to, are eifected by air motors controlled by valves individual thereto, the valves in turn being under the control of the timer 29. complete rotation of the timer shaft v42 effects a cycle of operations. of the blowing machine.

Eachi A pair of shears (see Figs. 4 and 6) comprises blades 3| carried on shear arms 32 mounted to swing about vertical pivots 38 on a shear carrying head 33. Intermeshing segmental gears 35 on the shear arms cause the shear blades to swing in unison. One of the shear arms is formed with an extension 36 to the outer end of which is connected one end of a coil spring 31, the other end of the spring being connected to a bracket arm 38 on a vertically disposed frame 39 which serves as a carriage for the shears. The head 33 is mounted to be reciprocated vertically in guideways 49 on the frame 39, by means hereinafter described.

The shearing movements of the shears are under the control of a disk cam 4| mounted to rotate with the timer shaft 42 which isrotated continuously by the sprocket chain 28. The driving connections between the shaft 42 and the cam 4|' (see Figs. 4 and 5) include a worm 43 carried on a yoke 44 splined on the shaft 42 to rotate therewith. The worm 43 meshes with a worm gear 45 journalled on the shaft 42, the

Worm gear having a hub or sleeve extension 46 journalled in the frame 39. The cam 4| is bolted to a hub 41 having a fixed mounting on the sleeve 46. It will thus be seen that the cam 4| is connected to rotate with the shaft 42. The worm 43 provides an adjusting means for rotatively adjusting the cam relative to its driving shaft and thereby timing the operation of the shears.

Operating connections between the cam and the shears (see Fig. 10) include a vertically disposed rock arm 48 having a pivotal connection 49 at its lower end with the frame 39. A cam roll 59 on the arm 48 is held against the cam by the tension of the spring 31 which is connected to the upper end of said arm through linkage including an adjusting rod 52, the latter permitting adjustment of the shear blades toward and from each other. The cam 4| is rotated continuously in a counter-clockwise direction (Figs. 9 and 10) and is formed with a steep cam surface 53, permitting a quick inward movement of the arm 48 under the influence of the spring 31, thereby effecting a quick closing movement of the shears.

In addition to the shearing movements of the shears, the shear carrying head 33 is periodically reciprocated for moving the shears bodily toward and from a position beneath the mold at the gathering station. To permit this movement the carriage 39 is mounted to reciprocate horizontally in guides 54 on a framework 55 mounted on the base 22. The means for reciprocating the carriage 39 comprises an air operated piston motor including a cylinder 56, piston 51 and piston rod 58, the latter connected to the carriage 39. Air under pressure for operating the piston motor is supplied to the cylinder 56 underv the control of a valve 59 (Fig. 4) which may be of conventional construction. The air supply for operating the valve 59 is under the control of the timer 29. When the valve piston is moved to the right as shown in Fig. 4, air under pressure is admitted through the valve to a port 6| (Figs. 4 and 8) and from thence through a pipe 62 (Fig. 8) to the right-hand end of the motor cylinder so that the piston 51 is moved to the left, thereby retracting the frame 39 and shears 3|. When the valve piston is reversed, air pressure is admitted to a port 63 and through a pipe 64 to the left-hand end of the motor cylinder so that the shear head is projected to operative posiafaasea tion (Fig. 4 and 6). As the shaft 42, or at least the part thereof on which the cam 4| and Worm gear drive 43 to 41 are mounted, must be free to move longitudinally with the reciprocating carriage 39, it has a longitudinally slidable mounting in the timer casing, the shaft preferably comprising telescopic sections.

When the piston motor operates to withdraw the shears, the latter at the same time are given a downward movement under the control of 9. cam track 65 formed in a cam plate 66. A cam roll 61 running on the cam track is carried on an arm 68 extending downward from the head 33. As shown in Fig. 4, the forward portion of the cam track is downwardly and rearwardly inclined so that during the initial retracting movement of the shear head, the shears are lowered a short distance.

The mechanism interconnecting the shears with the means for adjusting the blowing machine u'p and down will now be described. Such mechanism serves the purpose of automatically maintaining the shears at the proper level when the blowing machine or the mold carriage is adjusted up or down as is sometimes necessary or desirable. Such adjustment may be needed, for example, to regulate the depth to which the molds enter the glass during the charging operation, or when there is a ychange in the level of the glass.

Referring to Figs.V 1, 11 and 12, the motor 2| which operates as heretofore described for lifting and lowering the "blowing machine, also has driving connections through speed reduction gearing with a shaft 69, said connections including a sprocket chain 18 and sprocket wheel 1|. The shaft 69 is journalled in a stationary bracket 12. The sprocket wheel 1| (see Fig. 11) has a frictional driving connection with the shaft, be-

ing held between the friction 'disks 13 mounted onA the shaft betweenbearing plates 14 and 15. The plate 14 is threaded on the shaft and clamped in position by a screw 16. The plate 15 is splined on the shaft vand bears against the adjoining friction 'disk with a pressure applied by means of a coil spring 11, the compression of which may be adjusted by an adjusting nut 18 threaded on the shaft. Keyed to the shaft 69 is a bevel pinion 19 which runs in mesh with a bevel gear keyed to a vertical shaft 8| journalled in the bracket 12. frame or housing 82. A slide block 83 is mounted for up Vand down movement' in guideways 84 formed in the frame 82. The shaft 8| comprises a screw threaded section 85 which extends through a correspondingly threaded opening in the slide block 83 so that rotation `of the shaft 8| imparts vertical movement to the slide block.

A vertically disposed rod 86 isconnected by a universal joint 81 at its lower end with the slide block 83. The upper end ofthe rod 86 is connected by a universal joint 88 with the lower end of a vertical rod 89, the latter connected by a turn buckle 90 to a rod 89a.. The upper end of the rod 89a ('see Figs. 2 and 3) is pivotallyv connected with a horizontally disposed rock arm 9| keyed to a rock shaft 92, the latter journalled in the frame 55, A second rock shaft 93 is also journalled in the frame 55 parallel with the shaft 92, the shafts 92 and 93 being in the same horizontal plane. The cam plate 66 is connected by pivot pins 94 with a pair 'of rock arms 95 keyed to the shafts 92 and 93, thereby providing a parallel link connection betweenthe cam .plate and the rock shafts. Rock .arms 96 and/96 Mounted on the bracket 12 is aY keyed to the shafts 92 and-93 extend upwardly therefrom and are connectedat their upper ends by a rod 91,: thus. providing a second parallel link connection between therock shafts. AIt will be seen that when the motor 2| is operated for adjusting the blowing machine up or down, it will operate to impart up or down movement to the frods 85, 89 and 89a. Such movement serves to rock the shafts 92 and 93 and thereby move the cam plate 'Bbodily up or down, thus lifting or lowering the shears. The parts are so proportioned that the same degree of vertical movement is imparted to the shears asto the mold carriage and molds.

. When the molds on the blowing machine are changed or replaced by other molds, either longer or shorter, it becomes necessary either to raise or.to lower the mold carriage through a corresponding distance so that the lower or charge receiving ends ofthe molds will be brought to the proper level for gathering the mold charges of glass.l In order to permit this adjustment of the` mold` carriage without moving Athe shears up and down to the same degree, stops 98 are provided on opposite sides of the rock arm 96 to limit the swinging movement of the rock arm. If, foriexample, the machine has been operating with comparatively short molds and these are exchanged for a set of long molds, it is necessary to .raise the mold carriage a distance equal to the difference between the lengths of the long and short molds. This lifting of the mold carriage is effected by operating the motor 2|. The initial upward movement will operate through the rods 86, 89 and 89a, to rock the shaft 92 and rock arm 96 until the latter strikes the stop 98. The upward movement ofthe shears is thus arrested. As the motor 2| continues to lift the mold carriage, the sprocket disk turns idly on the shaft 69, permitting the molds to be adjusted upwardly independently of the shears. As the vertical movement of the shears which takes place vbefore being arrested by the stop 98 is only through a short distance, the shears can rbe readjusted by means of the turn buckle 90,

connected with said mold carriage adjusting means and the cutter for automatically adjusting the cutter up and down with the mold carriage and thereby maintaining a constant relative position of the mold and cutter during said adjustment.

2. Apparatus for forming glass articles comprising a mold carriage mounted for horizontal rotation, a mold thereon, a cutter mounted independently of the mold carriage, means for actuating the cutter for severing mold charges, a motor, driving connections between the motor and mold carriage for lifting and lowering the carriage when the motor is driven, and driving connections between said motor and the cutter by which said driving of the motor causes the cutter to be lifted and lowered in synchronism with the Aup and down movements ofthe-mold carriage. i f I 3. 'Ihe combination of a mold-carriage, asuction gathering mold thereon, a cutter mounted independently of .the mold carriage, mechanism for adjusting the mold carriage up and down, and interconnected mechanism between the mold carriage and cutter for adjusting the cutter up and Idown with the mold carriage.

4. The combination of a mold carriage, a suction gathering mold thereon, a cutter mounted independentlyfof the mold carriage, mechanism for adjusting the mold carriage upand down, and mechanism for automatically adjusting the cutter up and down Withthe mold through a limited range and then arresting thecutter during sai-d adjustment of the mold carriage and permitting the mold and carriageto be adjusted up or down beyond said range while the cutter remains stationary. 4. f 1

5..'The combination of a glass blowingl machine comprising a rotary mold carriage and a mold thereon, a vertically adjustable support on which the machine is mounted, an electric motor, Vlifting mechanism actuated by said motor for adjusting the mold carriage vertically, a cutter cooperating with the mold, mechanism for mounting the cutter separate from the mold carriage, and means actuated by said motor for automatically moving the cutter upwardly in synchronism with the movements of the mold and to an extent commensurate with said movements when the carriage is lifted by said motor.

6. The combination of a glass blowing machine t comprising a rotary mold carriage and a mold thereon, a vertically adjustable support on which the machine is mounted, an electric motor, lifting mechanism actuated by said motor for adjusting the mold carriage vertically, a cutter cooperating with the mold, mechanism for mounting the cutter separate from the mold carriage, automatic means including a driving connection between the motor and the cutter for lifting the cutter when the mold carriage is lifted by said motor, and a stop to limit the upward movement of the cutter while the mold carriage is in an intermediate position during said Vertical adjustment, said driving connections for the cutter including a friction clutch.

7. Mechanism for severing mold charges comprising a supporting frame, a carriage mounted to reciprocate horizontally thereon, a shear blade mounted to move with said carriage and pivoted to swing horizontally thereon, means for swinging said blade about its pivot, and automatic means for lifting and lowering the bla-de during its said movement with said carriage.

8. Mechanism for severing mold charges comprising a supporting frame, a carriage mounted to reciprocate horizontally thereon, a shear blade mounted to move with said carriage and pivoted to swing horizontally thereon, means for swinging said blade about its pivot, a stationary cam, and means actuated by said cam for lifting and lowering the blade during its reciprocating movement with the carriage.

9. The combination of a pair of shears, a head on which said shears are mounted, a carriage mounted to reciprocate horizontally, a piston motor connected to the carriage for reciprocating it, said head mounted to reciprocate with the carriage, a spring for actuating the shears,

a cam controlling theaction of the shears, Aa

stationary cam, and operating connections between the stationary cam and said head, said stationarycam being operative through said connections to move the shears up and down during their reciprocating movements.

10. Thev combination of a pair of shears, head on which said shears are mounted, a carriage mounted to reciprocate horizontally, a piston motor connected to the carriage for reciprocating it, said head mounted to reciprocate with the carriage, a spring for actuating the shears, a cam controlling the action of the shears, a stationary cam, operating connections between the stationary cam and said head, said stationary cambeing operative through said connections to move the shears up and down during their reciprocating movements, and means for adjusting said stationary cam up and down and thereby adjusting theshearsup and down.

1-1. The combination of a rotary mold carriage, molds thereon, means controlling the rotary movements of the mold carriage including a timer, shear mechanism mounted separately from the mold carriage including a pair of shears, a carriage on which the shears are mounted, a piston motor operative to reciprocate said last mentioned carriage, means actuated by the timer for controlling the operation of the piston motor, and an electric motor for driving the said timerl 12. The combination of a pair of shears, a head frame on which the shears are mounted, a

carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocation,

a motor for reciprocating said carriage, said head frame mounted for `vertical sliding movement on the carriage, a stationary cam, and operating connections between the cam and said head frame by which the latter is moved up and down during the reciprocating movements of the carriage.

13. The combination of a pair of shears, a head frame on which the shears are mounted, a carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocation, a motor for reciprocating said carriage, said head frame mounted for vertical sliding movement on the carriage, a stationary cam, operating connections between the cam and said head frame by which the latter is moved up and down during the reciprocating movements of the carriage, parallel rock shafts, rock arms thereon, said cam being connected to the rock arms, and means for rocking said shafts and thereby lifting and lowering the cam and causing the latter to lift and lower said head frame independently of the reciprocating movements of said'carriage.

14. The combination of a mold carriage, a mold thereon, a cutter mounted separately from the mold carriage, means for adjusting the carriage and mold up and down, and interconnected mechanism between the mold carriage and cutter operable automatically when the mold carriage is adjusted up and down to effect commensurate up and down adjustments of the cutter.

JOSEPH P. BENOIT. RUSSELL G. ALLEN. LUTHER H. WIDEMAN. 

